Troy BID improves downtown streetscape

Published 3:02 pm, Thursday, October 28, 2010

TROY -- The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District began its beautification campaign Thursday.

The BID will plant 15 trees and hang 150 new street banners to spruce up and promote downtown.

"As the Business Improvement District gets up to full speed, residents and visitors will notice many more improvements to our streetscape, including beautification staff, additional plantings and street furniture," said Elizabeth Young, a BID consultant and director of the Troy Downtown Collaborative.

The first tree was planted at Fulton Street and Fifth Avenue by students from the Troy High School Environmental Club with the Capital District Community Gardens. Financial support was provided by the BID, the city of Troy and the E. Stewart Jones Law Firm.

The banners feature the Troy logo designed in 2008 as part of a citywide rebranding funded by the Redevelopment Foundation. The banner design was donated by Smith and Jones, a city marketing firm.

The banners will go up throughout the downtown business district over the next three weeks.

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The BID's beautification effort "takes Troy to the next level," said Vic Christopher, the city's economic development coordinator.

The Troy BID began operations this spring after years of debate regarding its creation. The BID board of 20 people was seated in the spring.